german detainee — german detainee — A German estate agent, currently detained in Cyprus on allegations of misappropriating Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas, is set to provide written testimony regarding her prison conditions. This follows a request from her lawyer, Sotiris Argyrou, who is advocating for her release under specific conditions.
During the court proceedings, Argyrou raised serious concerns about his client’s treatment over the past 18 months, characterising it as “humiliating.” He highlighted the prolonged duration of her detention, the extensive number of prosecution witnesses, and the overwhelming amount of evidence involved in the case.
The Nicosia Criminal Court has ruled that the request for her release will not be considered at this stage, ordering that she remain in custody while her testimony regarding the conditions of her detention is prepared. Following this, the prosecution is expected to present written testimony from the Central Prisons addressing the allegations made by Argyrou.
In a bid for her release, Argyrou proposed several conditions, including the option for her to stay at a hotel near the court, posting a bond of up to €600,000, reporting daily to a police station, and surrendering her travel documents. He has also submitted various correspondences about her prison conditions, including letters to the Central Prisons and the Commissioner for Administration.
Among the troubling issues raised, Argyrou revealed that his client had been denied access to prescribed medication since December 2024, even though it has been available in Cyprus since November 2025. He noted that there had been a brief period in late 2024 when the medication was administered before being abruptly stopped again in January. It was only recently that the medication was reinstated after further correspondence with prison officials.
In a particularly alarming incident, Argyrou mentioned that a mouse’s head was discovered in the defendant’s food. Following her complaints to the police, the defendant reportedly faced threats, raising concerns about her safety and well-being while in custody. After the incident, she requested only yogurt and vegetables, but was denied access to those items, forcing her to rely on whatever canned food was available at the prison canteen.
Further compounding her difficulties, for six months, her canteen orders were opened in front of other inmates, making her vulnerable to harassment and even robbery on one occasion. Additionally, she struggled to communicate her health issues due to the absence of a translator in the early months of her detention.
Arising from these factors, Argyrou contended that the treatment his client has received constitutes inhumane treatment and breaches Article 8 of the Constitution. He pointed out that her 18-month detention is effectively equivalent to two years in prison due to the nature of pre-trial detention, especially considering the complexity of the case, which involves 64 witnesses and more than five million pieces of evidence. The prosecution has acknowledged ongoing investigations that may introduce additional witnesses into the case.
In light of these complications, Argyrou questioned the timeline for when the prosecution would conclude its case, emphasising that the defence must have adequate time to review the extensive evidence. He referenced Articles 5 and 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, advocating for the right to a timely trial and the detrimental effects that delays have on pre-trial detention.
Addressing the concerns regarding the delay, he pointed out that detention should not serve as a punitive measure, and alternatives should be considered based on the duration and rationale for her detention.
In response, the prosecution, represented by Anna Matthaiou, disputed some of the claims, stating that allegations regarding the lack of a translator were not corroborated by the submitted correspondence. She noted that the prison authorities would need to respond to the claims regarding the conditions of the defendant’s detention.
Matthaiou also clarified that the defendant had requested to be placed with a convicted prisoner, as the prison’s wings are segregated for convicts and pre-trial detainees. The court has directed the defence to submit a written statement from the defendant concerning Argyrou’s claims, while the prosecution has been invited to respond in writing as well. The next hearings have been scheduled for 26, 28, and 30 January 2026.
